Press Release

October 25, 2017

ARTrageous Benefit GalaImages by Ansel Adams
Commissioned symphonic work by Chris and Dave Brubeck
Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
5 p.m. to midnight

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The photographic genius of Ansel Adams paired with a commissioned symphonic work composed by Chris Brubeck and his late father, jazz legend Dave Brubeck, highlight Scottsdale Arts’ annual ARTrageous Benefit Gala on Saturday, Dec. 2. Proceeds benefit Scottsdale Arts Education & Outreach.

Ansel Adams: America showcases more than 100 floor-to-ceiling projected images by the celebrated photographer accompanied by a full-orchestra performance of the special composition under the baton of Maestro Peter Jaffe.

The 22-minute, one-movement piece “is a symphonic tribute saluting one of America’s most cherished artists that fully integrates sweeping melodies with 102 striking images of or by Ansel,” Chris Brubeck writes. He notes that few people realize that Adams trained to be a classical concert pianist, which greatly influenced his photography.

“The merging of music and photography made perfect sense when we discovered that Ansel Adams was well on his way to becoming a serious concert pianist until he was seduced by the beauty of Yosemite and succumbed to the lure of photography,” according to Brubeck. “He was an artist and thinker whose experiences were as monumental as El Capitan. Growing up in San Francisco, Adams experienced a variety of historic events that would influence his art.” These included the Great Earthquake of 1906, the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915 (which his father required him to go every day for a year as part of his home schooling) and construction of the Golden Gate and Bay bridges.

Dave Brubeck grew up as a cowboy in the California foothills near Stockton, the son of a cowboy and a classical pianist. Chris Brubeck enticed his father to join him in composing the special piece in part by pointing out that Adams and his father both felt the “artistic influences of a booming San Francisco,” adding that changes in the mid-20th century influenced the art forms of both men.

The result of the father-son collaboration, Chris Brubeck says, is a composition, “full of many wonderful themes and ideas which we expanded and polished together,” that corresponds to exact images to be shown throughout the performance of the score.

Also on the program: Violin soloist Nick Kendall will be featured in another work by Chris Brubeck, Spontaneous Combustion, which was composed specifically for him.

Gala honorary chairs are Billie Jo and Judd Herberger.


Tickets: gala.scottsdalearts.org

The Complete Package
, $500

Dinner paired with fine wines, an auction filled with unique objects and travel packages, the concert and after-party. ($400 of each ticket is tax deductible.)
The Concert Package, $75

Symphony performance and after-party, which provides all guests with dancing to bespoke beats, signature cocktails, delectable sweets and savories and the ever-popular north patio cigar lounge.
Gala schedule:
5 p.m.

Registration and Cocktails

Silent Auction
Exhibition In Search of Beauty in the Young@ART Gallery

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

6 p.m.
Dinner

Dayton Fowler Grafman Atrium

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

8 p.m.

Live Auction

Ansel Adams: America Concert

Virginia G. Piper Theater

10 p.m.

After-party

Dayton Fowler Grafman Atrium

Cocktail attire

Premier Sponsor: Andeavor

Presenting Sponsors: BMO Harris Bank, SRP, PRO EM

Party Cast and Photo Sponsor: Cox Communications

Silent and Live Auction Sponsor: Northern Trust

After-Party Sponsors: Gensler, Harvard Investments

Signature Sponsors: APS, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Gainey Ranch Financial Center, Lovitt & Touché, MidFirst Bank, National Bank of Arizona, Nationwide, PHX Architecture, Worth New York, Woody’s Place Jazz at Sagewood, 5 Arts Circle


SCOTTSDALE ARTS
Through its partnership with the City of Scottsdale, the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts (formerly known as Scottsdale Cultural Council) creates diverse, inspired arts experiences and educational opportunities that foster active, lifelong community engagement with the arts. Since its founding in 1987, Scottsdale Arts has grown into a regionally and nationally significant, multi-disciplinary arts organization offering an exceptional variety of programs through three acclaimed divisions – Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) and Scottsdale Public Art – serving more than 400,000 participants annually.

SCOTTSDALE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTSSince 1975, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts has provided a stage for a wide range of artists and genres, creating shared, inspiring experiences for the community that celebrate artistic excellence and cultural awareness. Today one of the premier performing-arts halls in the western United States, the Center presents a diverse season of music, dance, theater, comedy and film from around the world.

LOCATION AND PARKINGScottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is located at 7380 E. Second St. in downtown Scottsdale. Free parking is available in the public parking garage located to the west of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Wells Fargo Avenue. Additional free parking is available at the Old Town Parking Corral at East Second Street and Brown Avenue and at the Civic Center Library parking garage located on Drinkwater Boulevard at East Second Street.

ACCESSIBILITY
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts offers performance accommodations to enhance audience members’ experience, including: American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation or live audio description with two weeks advance notice. Assistive-listening devices and wheelchair seating are also available. Visit www.ScottsdalePerformingArts.org/visit/accessibility/ or contact the Member and Patron Services Box Office at 480-499-TKTS (8587) [TDD: 480-874-4694] for further details. Please inquire about services when ordering tickets.

TICKET DISCOUNTS
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts offers a variety of ticket discounts for Scottsdale Arts members at the Friends level and above, groups of 10 or more and those purchasing packages to four or more events in one order. The Center provides free tickets to selected events for eligible students, teachers and active-duty military and veterans, and 50-percent off tickets to selected events for patrons 29 and under. Visit www.ScottsdalePerformingArts.org/visit/tickets-discounts/ or call 480-499-TKTS (8587) for more information.

THE STOREThe award-winning Store at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts supports the mission and diverse programs of the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts. The Store’s unique selection of merchandise includes artist-made jewelry, stylish furnishings for home and office, unique creations by Arizona artists, fair-trade and upcycled/recycled global crafts, music, books, greeting cards and imaginative toys. Purchases are tax free, and members receive a 10 percent discount. Gift wrapping and shipping are also available. The Store is open seven days a week: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon – 5 p.m.; and throughout most evening events. Phone: 480-874-4644.

HOW TO REACH US
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts7380 E. Second St.Scottsdale, AZ 85251

www.ScottsdalePerformingArts.org

480-499-TKTS (8587)

MEDIA: For interviews, digital photographs or additional information please contact:

Tina May
Senior Communications Specialist
Scottsdale Arts
Email: [email protected]

Phone: 480-874-4663

www.ScottsdaleArts.org